Clutch mechanism for automobiles and the like.



L. s. GHADWIGK.

ISM FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED APR.21,1908.

' GLUTQH MEGHAN Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

17a van/2%?" L. s. GHADWIOK. CLUTCH MEGHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THELIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED APR.21,1908.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS 00., Wasmycrou, p. c.

, i. UNITED STATE-S- rAtrnN'r orrron.

LEE S. OHADWIOK, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO OHADWIGKENGINEERING WORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

cLULroI-r ncHAmsr/r Fort AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, Linn-S. CHADwIoK, citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Clutch Meohanismfor Automobiles and the Like, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clutch mechanism for use in automobilesand inlike situations.

One object of my invention is to provide a clutch Which may be readilyadjusted, one which is capable of being'readily removed and thoroughlycleaned andreplaced without requiring taking down of the entiremechanism relating to this part of the machine. By my invention thetourist can quickly change or renew his clutch means on the road, itbeing simply necessary for him to carry the extra clutch band.

The invention consists in the features, and combination and arrangementof parts'hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the fly wheelof an engine with which my improved clutch is associated, this alsobeing shown in frontview. Fig. 2 is a central, vertical sectional viewthrough Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view relating to one of theclutchband forgings or brackets. Fig.

4 is a detail view of forging looking from the right of'Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a detail view of'the forging which is connected with the other end ofthe clutch band. 1 I

In these drawingsthe fly-wheel of the engine is indicated at 1: on ashaft '2. The clutch shaft 3 is arranged axially in linewith the shaft 2and surrounding. this clutch shaft is a clutch sleeve 4 movablelongitudinally thereof, being pressed by a spring 5 icon tained therein,the said spr ngpressing at one end upon the head of thesleeve and at theother end upon a collar" or shoulder 6 which is adjusted by the nuts- 7to increase or decrease thetension of this spring. This sleeve hasattached thereto a rack 8 engaging a pinion 9'on a shaft 10 which isournaled in bearings 11, 12, of the clutch bodyor disk. This rock shaft10 has a crankmember 13 at its end which is located between theprojections or lugs'l l, 15, of a forging 16 which is riveted orotherwise ,securedto the clutch band or ring 17., This clutch orfriction ring is arranged to have frictional contact with the innersideof theflange of p g j Specification or Letters Patent.

Application filed April 21, 1908. Serial N 0. 428,352.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

the fly-wheel, it being divided at the point 18. This friction band orclutch ring has at its end opposite to that to which the forging 16 issecured a second forging 19 riveted or otherwise secured thereto, saidforging having a lug or hooked shape member 20 extending inwardlytherefrom which engages a shouldered stud or bolt 21, the screw threadedend of which is located in a boss or projection 22 on the clutch body ordisk wherein it is locked by a ca screw 23. The clutch ring is also heldin p ace by means of screws 24, the heads of which are flattened on oneside so that by turning these holding screws half way around the clutchband may be removed by passing it over the flattened surface ofthe screwheads, the said band being therefore Withdrawn in a directionparallelwith the axis of the fly-wheel, and from Fig. 3 it will benoticed that this removal of the clutch band is freely permitted by thehooked form of the lug or projection 20 of the forging 19, the openingof which is directed towards the body of the disk or clutch body and sofar as the crank 13 is concerned the forging 16 may be disengaged fromit with equal facility by simply drawing the clutch band outwardly fromthe flywheel in the direction of the axis thereof,

ment it will be observed that the whole clutch ring may be readilyremoved for cleaning or for replacing by a new clutch band by a personof ordinary skill and intelligence and the tourist may readily clean orreplace this clutch band at any time while on the road. The clutch bandis of light construction and extra bands may be carried without addingappreciably to the weight of the car or encumbering the occupant.

For adjusting the clutch band it is simply necessary to loosen the capscrew 23 and turn the shouldered bolt 21 in or out so that this bolt byacting upon the lug 20 will draw thisendxof the band towards or removeit further from the opposite end of the band. The clutch band isoperated through the shaft 10 and the rack and pinion from the movementof the clutch sleeve. This sleeve may beof substantially known form itbeing held retracted in the ordinary manner to keep the clutch out ofaction by pressure of any suitable way with the clutch throw-out collar25.

It will be observed that the clutch ring can be removed for cleaning orreplacing by a new clutch ring without necessitating dismantling of anyadjacent parts of the mechanism and it is freely accessible under allconditions.

It will be noticed particularly that the clutch band has what may betermed for convenience of description, a removable engagement with itsoperating and supporting means. I mean by this that no positiveconnecting means such as bolts, pins or the like are employed to fastenor connect the clutch band to the parts with which it is associated at13 and 21. In other words, the engagement is rather of an interlockingor slip joint, or coupling nature, the band being at all times ready fordisengagement with the operating and supporting means by simplywithdrawing or slipping it therefrom after adjusting the screws 24.

It will be clear that the clutch band can be easily removed withoutchanging the adjustment of the clutch, that is to say the clutch bandmay be removed without altering the adjusting device and when placedback in position again it will be under the same adjustment as itoccupied before.

I claim as my invention:

1. A clutch comprising a main clutch memher, a split clutch band, meansfor operating said band, and means independent of the operating meansfor connecting the end of the band to the main clutch member and foradjusting it circumferentially thereon, said band being removable andreplaceable in respect to the main clutch member and the adjustingmeans, which latter maintains its adjusted osition in readiness toreceive the band, W en replaced, under the same adjust- .ment as beforeits removal.

2. A clutch comprising a main clutch member, a clutch band, operatingmeans therefor, and adjusting means independent of the operating meansto adjust the band circumferentially, said band being removable fromsaid operatingmeans and adjusting means by an axial movement, saidadjusting means connecting the end of the clutch band with the mainclutch member, substantially as de scribed.

3. In combination, a main clutch member, a split clutch band, operatingmeans, having a slip joint connection with one end of said band, anadjusting screw forming an adjustable connection between the other endof said split band and the main clutch member, and serving to adjust theband circumferentially, and a slip joint connection between said screwand the band whereby said band is freely removable from both itsoperating and adjusting means and without disturbing the adjustment ofthe screw, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a main clutch member, a split band, a boss 011the main member, a screw or bolt adjustable in the boss, and a hookshaped slip oint connection between the band and said screw bolt topermit the removal of the band, said screw bolt serving to adjust thesplit band to spread it or contract it circumferentially, substantiallyas described.

5. In combination with a main clutch memher, a split clutch band, anadjustable screw or bolt connecting one end of the band with said mainclutch member to adjust the band circumferentially, and a slip jointconnection between said band and screw belt to permit the band to beremoved axially of the clutch and be restored without changing theadustment of said screw bolt, substantially as de scribed.

6. In combination with a main clutch. member, a S)lit clutch band, arock shaft with means thereon for engaging the clutch band fixedhearings in which said shaft is journaled, said shaft extending from thecentral part of the clutch outwardly and means for operating the rockshaft, said clutch band having a slip joint connection with the e11gaging means on the rock shaft whereby the said band may be removed andreplaced in an axial direction substantially as described.

7. In combination with a main clutch memher, a split clutch band havinginwardly extending projections, a rock shaft having means thereonengaging between said projections to operate the said band, bearings inwhich said shaft is journaled, said shaft extending from the centralpart of the clutch outwardly and means for operating the rock shaft,said projections permitting the clutch band to be slipped out of andinto connection with the operating means on the rock shaft substantiallyas described.

8. In combination in a clutch a main clutch member, a split clutch band,operating means having a slip joint connection with one end of the band,and an adjustable memher having a slip joint connection with the otherend of the band and adapted to adjust the same circumferentially, saidband being removable and replaceable without disturbing the adjustment,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEE S. CHADIVICK.

Witnesses:

J. H. IVIAXWELL, HENRY H. BLmM.

